Sock hand

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments are directed a clothing assistive device. A device may include a first portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface may include a knob at a first end of the first portion and another knob at a second end of the first portion, opposite the first end. The device may further include a second, elongated portion extending perpendicularly from the second surface of the first portion. The first portion is configured to position an article of clothing for insertion of a bodily limb therein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to methods and devices that may assist in placement of sock, stocking, or the like, over a foot.

2. Background

For various reasons, such as lack of mobility, an individual may have trouble putting on an article of clothing, such as a sock, a stocking, and the like. Although well known in the art, conventional sock donning devices may be inadequate due to difficulty of use. A need exists for enhanced methods and devices for assisting in placement of a piece of clothing over an individual's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a clothing assistive device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side-view of the clothing assistive device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear-view of a clothing assistive device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a clothing assistive device assisting in placement of a sock over a foot, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the novelty of the exemplary embodiments presented herein.

It is noted that the term “sock,” as used herein, includes any like clothing device, such as, for example only, a legging, a stocking, a sleeve, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates a clothing assistive device 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Device 100 includes a first portion 102 and a second portion 104. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, first portion 102 and second portion 104 comprise a unitary structure. More specifically, device 100 may comprise a unitary piece with no movable parts. Furthermore, device 100 may be seamless, and the edges of device 100 may be rounded and smooth. For example only, device 100 may comprise plastic, such as, polyethylene plastic. Accordingly, as will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill, device 100 may be easily disinfected. Device 100 may, according to one example, weigh substantially 0.21 lbs.

Second portion 104 includes major surfaces 105 and 107. First portion 102 includes a first surface 106 and a second surface 108, which is opposite first surface 106. First surface 106 and second surface 108 may be substantially perpendicular to major surfaces 105 and 107 of second portion 104. It is noted that first surface 106 may comprise a planar surface. It is noted that first portion 102 may also be refereed to herein as a “head element.” Second portion 104 may extend perpendicularly from second surface 108. Second portion 104 may also be referred to herein as a “handle element.” It is noted that, according to one exemplary embodiment, second portion 104 may comprise a hook at an end, opposite first portion 102. According to another exemplary embodiment, second portion 104 may comprise a shoe-horn at an end, opposite first portion 102. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, and as described below, second portion 104 may comprise a “u-shape.” Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and as described below, first portion 102 may comprise a “u-shape.”

Second surface 108 of first portion 102 may comprise a groove 120A and a groove 120B, wherein groove 120A and groove 120B are each proximate second portion 104. Furthermore, first portion 102 may also include grooves 122A and 122B on second surface 108. Additionally, a knob 124A is positioned between groove 120A and 122A and a knob 124B is positioned between groove 120B and 122B. First portion 104 may also include a knob 126B proximate groove 122B and a knob 126A proximate groove 122A. Knob 126A and knob 126B may each be referred to herein as an “ear.”

FIG. 2 is another illustration of device 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, first portion 102 may comprise a “u-shape” having a first element 110 and a second element 112. By way of example only, second portion 104 may have a length L of between substantially 12 inches and substantially 16 inches. Furthermore, as a non-limiting example, a distance D between first element 110 at an end 111 and second element 112 at an end 113 may be substantially 4.5 inches. FIG. 3 is another illustration of device 100 including first portion 102 and second portion 104, which includes first element 110 and second element 112. It is noted that an at least a portion of an outer surface 114 of first portion 102 may be sufficiently textured to enable outer surface 114 to assist in gripping an article of clothing, such as a sock. Further, at least a portion of an outer surface of second portion 104 proximate first portion 102 may also be textured.

It is further noted that at least a top portion of knob 126A may be bent inwardly, as represented by arrow 130A, toward a center of the “u-shape” formed by first portion 102. Similarly, at least a top portion of knob 126B may be bent inwardly, as represented by arrow 130B, toward a center of the “u-shape” formed by first portion 102. Stated another way, at least a top portion of each of knob 126A and knob 126 may be at an angle with respect to second portion 104. Stated yet another way, a distance between surface 108 at knob 126A and surface 108 at knob 126B may be less than a distance between surface 106 substantially directly beneath knob 126A and surface 106 substantially directly beneath knob 126B.

A contemplated use of device 100 will now be described. Initially, a sock (e.g., sock 150 of FIG. 4) may be held by one or two hands of the user, the user's mouth, or a combination thereof. Moreover, first portion 102 and, possibly, at least a portion of second portion 104, may be positioned within an opening of the sock. As a non-limiting example, a user may position second portion 102 within the sock and near a cusp of the sock to prop open the opening of the sock. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill, first portion 102 may prop open the sock opening to enable a user, upon positioning device 100 near a foot of the user, to insert the foot within the opening. Thereafter, leading with the toes, a foot may be inserted through the opening of the sock and pulled up over an instep and heel of the foot with assistance of device 100. It is noted that a user may maintain device 100 proximate a leg (i.e., calf region) and pull device 100 in a direction (i.e. away from the foot) to position the sock in the desired position.

FIG. 4 illustrates a sock 150 after being positioned onto a foot 152 and a portion of a leg 154 of a human with assistance from device 100. As illustrated in FIG. 4, first portion 102, and a portion of first portion 104, are positioned within opening of sock 150. With reference to FIGS. 1-4, it is noted that groove 120A, groove 120B, groove 122A, groove 122B, knob 124A, knob 124B, knob 126A, knob 126B, or a combination thereof, may assist in positioning a sock to enable a user to position his or her foot through a sock opening and into the sock.

Furthermore, to release device 100 from sock 150, a user may move device 100 a short distance (e.g., one inch) in a direction (i.e., a direction toward foot). Thereafter, the user may remove device 100 from sock 150. It is noted that, due to being bent inwardly, as noted above, knobs 126A and 126B may enable the user to easily detach device 100 from the sock after the sock has been positioned in a desired location.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another method 200, in accordance with one or more exemplary embodiments. Method 200 may include positioning at least a head portion of a device through an opening of and into an article of clothing, the head portion including a surface including a knob at a first end of the head portion and another knob at a second, opposite end of the head portion (depicted by numeral 202). Method 200 may further include positioning at least a portion of a foot of a user into the opening (depicted by numeral 204). Further, method 200 may include moving a handle portion of the device extending from the surface of the head portion in a direction away from the foot to position the sock over the foot (depicted by numeral 206).

Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may assist an individual having a lack of mobility (e.g., due to pregnancy, obesity, age, etc.) or a disabled individual, such as, for example only, a one arm amputee, surgery patients (e.g. hip or back surgery), a stroke victim, a person with paralysis, arthritis or an injury (e.g. injured wrist, shoulder, or arm, or carpal tunnel), in positioning an article of clothing (e.g., a sock) over a limb (e.g., a foot).

The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 

1. A device, comprising; a first portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface including a knob at a first end of the first portion and another knob at a second end of the first portion, opposite the first end; and a second, elongated portion extending perpendicularly from the second surface of the first portion; wherein the first portion is configured to position an article of clothing for insertion of a bodily limb therein.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion comprise plastic.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise a unitary material.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of the first portion is textured.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises a u-shape portion.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises a handle.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the knob and the another knob are shaped inwardly towards one another.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first surface is a planar surface.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the second surface further comprises: a second knob positioned between a first groove and a second groove; and a third knob positioned between a third groove and a fourth groove.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the article of clothing comprises at least one of a sock and a stocking.
 11. A device, comprising: a u-shaped head element having a planar first surface and an uneven second surface opposite the first surface, wherein at least a portion of an outside surface of the u-shaped head portion is textured; and a handle element extending perpendicularly from the first surface of the first portion; wherein the first portion is adapted for configuring an article of clothing for insertion of a bodily limb therein.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the head element and the handle element comprise a unitary piece of polyethylene plastic.
 13. The device of claim 13, wherein the second surface comprises a knob and another knob, wherein at least a portion of each of the knob and the another knob a formed inward towards a center of the u-shaped head element.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the second surface comprises a first groove and a second groove, each of the first and second grooves adjacent the handle element.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of an outside surface of the handle element is textured.
 16. The device of claim 14, wherein the second surface comprises a first knob and a second knob, wherein at least a portion of each of the first knob and the second knob is at an angle with respect to the handle element.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the second surface further comprises a third groove positioned between the first groove and the first knob and a fourth groove positioned between the second groove and the second knob.
 18. A method, comprising: positioning at least a head portion of a device through an opening of and into an article of clothing, the head portion including a surface including a knob at a first end of the head portion and another knob at a second, opposite end of the head portion; positioning at least a portion of a foot of a user into the opening; and moving a handle portion of the device extending from the surface of the head portion in a direction away from the foot to position the sock over the foot.
 19. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the handle portion of the device in a direction toward the foot to release the article of clothing from the device after positioning the sock over the foot.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning at least a head portion of a device through an opening of and into an article of clothing comprises positioning at least a head portion including a textured surface through an opening of and into an article of clothing. 